The Best Small Electric Cars in 2025

The early narrative of the electric car was that they were mostly big and expensive and mysterious and generally unobtainable. Ironic, given that the Nissan Leaf was the car that effectively started it all. Anyways, there was some truth in that. Manufacturers were inclined to make their EVs big and fancy for two reasons: it meant there was space for a big battery, to ameliorate range anxiety, and it also meant they could price the cars high to make back some of the massive development outlay.
Slowly but surely, though, things began to change. Battery tech improved, production and development costs decreased, more people bought electric and, eventually, smaller and more cost-effective models began coming through. They're LEAGUES above early Nissan Leafs and Renault Zoes and...ahem... the G-Wiz. (Remember that thing? LOL.) So here are our favourites, featuring some of the best electric cars you can buy today at any price.

The Cupra Born combines both sportiness and electric power into one appealing package. It’s the racier alternative to Volkswagen’s ID.3 hatchback, but the Cupra has smarter exterior styling and a more intuitive and usable interior. You can get a range of more than 300 miles or a 0-62mph time of just 6.6 seconds from the Cupra Born, depending on which battery and power output you pick. But whichever model you choose, you’ll be in one of the best small EVs around.
Read the review or explore the Cupra Born range on Autotrader

While it looks pretty similar to the (ancient) petrol version, the 500 electric is in fact an entirely new car. Look inside and you'll see a much more modern interior. and the tech is way beyond anything in the petrol 500. It's available with a choice of two battery sizes, so if you’re confident you’ll only do short trips you can save money upfront by going for the smaller one. If you need to go a bit further, the 42kWh option gives you the freedom of around 200 miles of range without charging.
Read the review or explore the Fiat 500 range on Autotrader

Feels a little retro now, almost, but the electric Corsa still has a very appealing sort of... appeal: The fact that it’s powered by batteries and a motor, rather than a petrol engine, makes it an easy first step into the world of electric - if that's what you're doing. It's good to drive and spacious, and the official 200-mile range is more than enough for most journeys. For something similar but more funky looking, the Peugeot e-208 is basically the same car underneath, but what you gain in style you lose in practicality.
Read the review or explore the Vauxhall Corsa range on Autotrader

The looks won't be to everyone's taste, but the Inster stands out, at least. And the tall, boxy styling makes it a hugely practical thing, given how little space it takes up on the road. It's also a very sophisticated package, with two widescreen displays as standard, an easy-to-operate infotainment system, and interior quality beyond what you'd expect from a small EV costing less than £25k. Highly recommended.
Read our Hyundai Inster review here

It was only a matter of time before racing outfit Abarth got its spanners into the Fiat 500 Electric. The changes are relatively subtle, but they're enough to transform the 500 into one of the most fun-to-drive electric cars on sale. At any price. A power hike from 118-horsepower to 155 gives the Abarth 500e razor-sharp responsiveness, but without being so quick that it's difficult to control... or insure. Tweaks to the steering and suspension give it proper road feel, turning it into one of those cars that you just feel connected to. Fun at any speed. It looks the business too, right?
Read the review or explore the Abarth 500e range on Autotrader

From one Abarth to another, the 600e is basically an Abarth 500 but fatter and shaped like an SUV, so you can fit more people and stuff into it. There are two versions, a 'basic' one with 240-horsepower and a limited edition Scorpionnissima model. That's the one to go for if you want maximum stupidity - it's covered in daft stickers, has proper racing bucket seats, a speaker that pipes a fake engine sound both inside and outside of the cabin, and an extra 40 horsepower. It's all a bit mad and terribly uncomfortable most of the time, but it's also an absolute riot to drive, and an extremely non-boring car in a class that tends to be extremely boring - the compact crossover class, that is.
Read all about the Abarth 600e here

We've saved the best for... somewhere around the middle of the list. Hey ho. The Renault 5 is not just one of the best small electric cars ever made, it's one of the best small cars ever made, full stop. And one of the best electric cars ever made. We did the full stop too early. It just gets everything spot on. Looks great, practical, lovely to drive, interesting, plays on classic heritage without being stupid or cheesy, and very reasonably priced. You end up seeing loads of these.
Here's our video review of the Renault 5 on YouTube

Take all the good things that we already know about BMW-era Mini... add electricity. That's basically it. Stylish, sensational interior, great to drive, highly customisable... and powered by an electric motor. It makes a car that was already great to drive even more responsive, nippy and fun. And quieter. Decent battery range (more than 200 miles) and a reasonable price tag (around £25,000) make the Mini electric a sensible buy. And if you need a bit more space, the MINI Aceman isn't that much bigger but is a lot more practical.
Click here to read our review of the electric Mini

Not many cars have as much character as the Ora 03. And it had even more before they changed its name. It used to be called "Funky Cat", which was brilliant in a slightly idiotic but very memorable sort of way. Like "Foo Fighters" or "Twitter". Still, despite now having basically the same name as a Tesla and a BMW and an Audi and a Kia (Model 3, 3-Series, A3, EV3), it's unlike anything else. Retro '90s hatchback looks combine with a minimalist interior and loads of cabin space, so it's a great runabout. It's very flawed, but that's almost part of the appeal, as we discovered when we lived with one for six months.
Click here to see how we got on living with an Ora 03

Intriguing looks, epic comfort, good quality, decent battery range, canny amount of space... £22k. There's the appeal of the Citroen e-C3 for you. It feels significant because it's so much electric car for such a reasonable price, undercutting the electric Vauxhall Corsa by thousands... undercutting most electric cars by thousands, actually. Apart from the Dacia Spring. The Dacia Spring is dirt cheap, but the Dacia Spring is also not that good.. The e-C3 is that good.
Here's everything you need to read about the Citroen e-C3